Steelers lose one defensive assistant, possibly another
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Steelers have lost another assistant from their coaching staff and could be in danger of losing one more.

Lou Spanos, a defensive assistant for the past 15 seasons, has agreed to become the linebackers coach for the Washington Redskins under new Coach Mike Shanahan. The Redskins have hired former Steelers defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to install the 3-4 defense in Washington.

Also, Steelers linebacker coach Keith Butler is a candidate to become defensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins. He has been granted permission by the Steelers to speak with Dolphins Coach Tony Sporano.

Coach Mike Tomlin has already had three changes on his coaching staff: Offensive line coach Larry Zierlein and special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky were fired and quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson retired,

Meantime, Omar Khan, the team's football and business administration coordinator, interviewed yesterday with new Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll about becoming their general manager. He is one of four known candidates for the position.

Chadman

01-13-2010, 06:36 PM

cha-cha-changes...

Wasn't Butler tagged as LeBeau's future successor? Hmm....is this the opening for Jerry Olsavsky to finally get the LB coaching job he's applied for a few times?

Honestly though- forced or not, a few changes in the coaching ranks might not hurt at all.

sd steel

01-13-2010, 07:32 PM

cha-cha-changes...

Wasn't Butler tagged as LeBeau's future successor? Hmm....is this the opening for Jerry Olsavsky to finally get the LB coaching job he's applied for a few times?

Honestly though- forced or not, a few changes in the coaching ranks might not hurt at all.

Or it might hurt alot. :stirpot

Mister Pittsburgh

01-13-2010, 08:45 PM

Yeah. I am thinking our linebackers have been pretty damn good over the years.

SteelerNation1

01-13-2010, 09:13 PM

This is one assistant coach I would like to stay. Although, he's been the LB coach for yrs and this is really the 1st "sniff" he's gotten as a DC. Not sure what that says.

costanza2k1

01-13-2010, 10:59 PM

Butler isn't the only one interviewing so we may be safe:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4823701

By Adam Schefter
ESPN.com
Archive
The Miami Dolphins interviewed former Virginia coach Al Groh for their defensive coordinator job on Wednesday, according to two league sources.

The Dolphins would like to make their decision by the end of the week.

Groh has a long history with Dolphins executive vice president/football operations Bill Parcells. The two men have spent well over a decade together at collegiate and NFL coaching positions. Groh was an assistant under Parcells when the New York Giants won Super Bowl XXV and when the New England Patriots lost Super Bowl XXXI.

Groh said on Monday he would welcome the chance to join Parcells in Miami.

"I've done it five times," Groh said if working for Parcells. "Some people would say that I'm nuts. Some people would say that I'm fortunate. So, having done it five times already, yeah, obviously, there's a track record there.

"I have a few things on the table right now that I'm interested in, and that might be one more to put on there."

AFC East blogger Tim Griffin contributed to this report.

RuthlessBurgher

01-15-2010, 11:29 AM

Not good news...the frontrunner for the Miami D.C. job looks like he'll stay in the college game, meaning that it is more likely that Butler bolts to South Beach.

Former Virginia head coach Al Groh will be named Georgia Tech's next defensive coordinator, sources close to the situation said Friday.

Groh, who was fired following the Cavaliers' 3-9 season, will replace Dave Wommack, who was fired last week after two seasons under coach Paul Johnson.

The Yellow Jackets allowed at least 30 points in six games but still finished the season with an 11-3 record. They lost to Iowa 24-14 in the FedEx Orange Bowl.

Groh interviewed for the defensive coordinator position with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday and was reportedly a front-runner for the position there, but he also told the Roanoke Times he has "no qualms about being an assistant coach" at the college level.

That's a position he hasn't held since 1988, when he was offensive coordinator at South Carolina.

Heather Dinich covers the ACC for ESPN.com. Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter was used in this report.

Oviedo

01-15-2010, 11:35 AM

Not good news...the frontrunner for the Miami D.C. job looks like he'll stay in the college game, meaning that it is more likely that Butler bolts to South Beach.

Former Virginia head coach Al Groh will be named Georgia Tech's next defensive coordinator, sources close to the situation said Friday.

Groh, who was fired following the Cavaliers' 3-9 season, will replace Dave Wommack, who was fired last week after two seasons under coach Paul Johnson.

The Yellow Jackets allowed at least 30 points in six games but still finished the season with an 11-3 record. They lost to Iowa 24-14 in the FedEx Orange Bowl.

Groh interviewed for the defensive coordinator position with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday and was reportedly a front-runner for the position there, but he also told the Roanoke Times he has "no qualms about being an assistant coach" at the college level.

That's a position he hasn't held since 1988, when he was offensive coordinator at South Carolina.

Heather Dinich covers the ACC for ESPN.com. Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter was used in this report.

I think there is a very good chance that Butler will get this job. Should we be concerned that the the defensive assistants are like rats abandoning a sinking ship? Lots of potential change coming.

phillyesq

01-15-2010, 11:42 AM

Not good news...the frontrunner for the Miami D.C. job looks like he'll stay in the college game, meaning that it is more likely that Butler bolts to South Beach.

Former Virginia head coach Al Groh will be named Georgia Tech's next defensive coordinator, sources close to the situation said Friday.

Groh, who was fired following the Cavaliers' 3-9 season, will replace Dave Wommack, who was fired last week after two seasons under coach Paul Johnson.

The Yellow Jackets allowed at least 30 points in six games but still finished the season with an 11-3 record. They lost to Iowa 24-14 in the FedEx Orange Bowl.

Groh interviewed for the defensive coordinator position with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday and was reportedly a front-runner for the position there, but he also told the Roanoke Times he has "no qualms about being an assistant coach" at the college level.

That's a position he hasn't held since 1988, when he was offensive coordinator at South Carolina.

Heather Dinich covers the ACC for ESPN.com. Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter was used in this report.

I think there is a very good chance that Butler will get this job. Should we be concerned that the the defensive assistants are like rats abandoning a sinking ship? Lots of potential change coming.

They aren't leaving for lateral positions; they are leaving for promotions. I don't think that is quite the same as rats abandoning a sinking ship...

That is a nice little nugget. Until they hire somebody else though, I won't be completely sold on it.

Another tweet he mentions that its interesting that 3 AFC East teams will feature new Def. Coordinators (Cheaters, Bills, Dolphins). Doesn't always mean they will be unsuccessful, but its nice they are on our schedule I suppose.

Linebackers coach Keith Butler has turned down the Miami Dolphins' offer to become their defensive coordinator and will remain with the Steelers, the Post-Gazette has learned.

Butler, 52, who has been with the Steelers for seven seasons, worked for two years in Cleveland with Dolphins Coach Tony Sparano (1999-2000). He is considered to be the person who will become the Steelers defensive coordinator whenever Dick LeBeau retires.
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Linebackers coach Keith Butler has turned down the Miami Dolphins' offer to become their defensive coordinator and will remain with the Steelers, the Post-Gazette has learned.

Butler, 52, who has been with the Steelers for seven seasons, worked for two years in Cleveland with Dolphins Coach Tony Sparano (1999-2000). He is considered to be the person who will become the Steelers defensive coordinator whenever bad word LeBeau retires.
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

I bet he was given the word that the DC job in Pittsburgh will be his soon. LeBeau gets the Hall of fame this year and then does one more season with Butler set up to take over. No matter what happens to the defense next season he still goes out on a high.

costanza2k1

01-15-2010, 02:17 PM

Yeah I was thinking the same thing too, but realistically. How long will Butler be around after Dick? If I had to guess he'd be around for 2 years and if successful be interviewed for a head coaching gig. Time to stock up on up and coming defensive assistants to keep the consistency going.

RuthlessBurgher

01-15-2010, 02:29 PM

Good news. I wouldn't mind if Horton left for a college gig because our DB's have underperformed (to say the least), but I would have hated to see Butler go to Miami, since he does a consistently good job with our linebackers.